Zhang Yuning
Encyclopedia
Zhang Yuning (born May 25, 1977 in Liaoning
, China
) is a former Chinese
international footballer
. After retiring from football he took up coaching to become the reserve team coach for Wenzhou Tomorrow
until he left at the beginning of the 2010 league season.
. He is referred to as the David Beckham
of China (due to his popularity with the Chinese tabloid press). Zhang was a pack-a-day smoker
, which did not help his fitness and health.
English club Leicester City
were interested in signing Zhang on loan back in November 2001. However, the Home Office was doubtful that he had not played regularly for the national team, rejecting his application for a work permit. Leicester did rekindle their interest in him in November 2004, after being recommended by Bobby Houghton
, though he again failed in his work permit.
He arrived in Australia
after being ordered to pay 2.34 million yuan
compensation to a fellow team-mate who was left a paraplegic following a car crash in which Zhang, who was driving, was only slightly injured. Yuning Zhang repeatedly failed to make the field or bench of Queensland Roar squads under Frank Farina, and was released without making an impact.
Liaoning
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the northeast of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "辽" , a name taken from the Liao River that flows through the province. "Níng" means "peace"...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
) is a former Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
international footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. After retiring from football he took up coaching to become the reserve team coach for Wenzhou Tomorrow
Wenzhou Tomorrow
Wenzhou Provenza Football Club is a football club located in Wenzhou, China. The club was founded in April 2007.-Name Changes:* April 2007 - January 2010 "Wenzhou Tomorrow " 温州明日...
until he left at the beginning of the 2010 league season.
Biography
He is a tall, strong centre forward who had a prolific record in Chinese football. He is also a full international for ChinaChina national football team
The China PR national football team is the national association football team of the People's Republic of China and is governed by the Chinese Football Association...
. He is referred to as the David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
of China (due to his popularity with the Chinese tabloid press). Zhang was a pack-a-day smoker
Health effects of tobacco smoking
The health effects of tobacco are the circumstances, mechanisms, and factors of tobacco consumption on human health. Epidemiological research has been focused primarily on cigarette tobacco smoking, which has been studied more extensively than any other form of consumption.Tobacco is the single...
, which did not help his fitness and health.
English club Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
were interested in signing Zhang on loan back in November 2001. However, the Home Office was doubtful that he had not played regularly for the national team, rejecting his application for a work permit. Leicester did rekindle their interest in him in November 2004, after being recommended by Bobby Houghton
Bobby Houghton
Robert Douglas Houghton , commonly known as either Bob Houghton or Bobby Houghton, is an English football manager and former player, Houghton was most recently the head coach of India. His career has spanned over 30 years and 10 different countries...
, though he again failed in his work permit.
He arrived in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
after being ordered to pay 2.34 million yuan
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
compensation to a fellow team-mate who was left a paraplegic following a car crash in which Zhang, who was driving, was only slightly injured. Yuning Zhang repeatedly failed to make the field or bench of Queensland Roar squads under Frank Farina, and was released without making an impact.
Club career stats
Last update: 10 June 2009| Season | Team | Country | Division | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Liaoning | 1 | ? | ? | |
| 1995 | Beijing Shougang Beijing Shougang Beijing Shougang can refer to:* Shougang, the Chinese steel company* The Beijing Ducks basketball team of the Chinese Basketball Association, during the time that the company sponsored the team and the team used the company name as part of its team name.... |
3 | ? | ? | |
| 1996 | Liaoning | 2 | ? | ? | |
| 1997 | Liaoning | 2 | ? | 11 | |
| 1998 | Liaoning | 2 | ? | 14 | |
| 1999 | Liaoning | 1 | 23 | 8 | |
| 2000 | Liaoning | 1 | 17 | 11 | |
| 2001 | Liaoning | 1 | 19 | 11 | |
| 2002 | Liaoning | 1 | 13 | 5 | |
| 2003 | Shanghai Shenhua Shanghai Shenhua Shanghai Shenhua is a professional Chinese football club currently playing in Chinese Super League. The club is currently owned by Zhu Jun , Shanghai SVA Group, SMEG and Huangpu Investment Ltd. . The current head coach is Dražen Besek... |
1 | 22 | 13 | |
| 2004 | Shanghai Shenhua Shanghai Shenhua Shanghai Shenhua is a professional Chinese football club currently playing in Chinese Super League. The club is currently owned by Zhu Jun , Shanghai SVA Group, SMEG and Huangpu Investment Ltd. . The current head coach is Dražen Besek... |
1 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2005 | Shanghai Shenhua Shanghai Shenhua Shanghai Shenhua is a professional Chinese football club currently playing in Chinese Super League. The club is currently owned by Zhu Jun , Shanghai SVA Group, SMEG and Huangpu Investment Ltd. . The current head coach is Dražen Besek... |
1 | 14 | 5 | |
| 2006 | Shanghai Shenhua Shanghai Shenhua Shanghai Shenhua is a professional Chinese football club currently playing in Chinese Super League. The club is currently owned by Zhu Jun , Shanghai SVA Group, SMEG and Huangpu Investment Ltd. . The current head coach is Dražen Besek... |
1 | 8 | 1 | |
| 06/07 | Queensland Roar FC Queensland Roar FC Brisbane Roar Football Club is a professional football club from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia competing in the Hyundai A-League national competition, playing their home games at Suncorp Stadium... |
1 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2008 | Liaoning | 1 | 0 | 0 |
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 12, 2001 | Thailand Thailand Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the... |
2-2 | Friendly | |
| 2 | February 12, 2001 | Thailand Thailand Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the... |
2-2 | Friendly | |
| 3 | February 14, 2001 | Thailand Thailand Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the... |
5-1 | Friendly | |
| 4 | February 14, 2001 | Thailand Thailand Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the... |
5-1 | Friendly | |
| 5 | February 14, 2001 | Thailand Thailand Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the... |
5-1 | Friendly | |
| 6 | August 5, 2001 | China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
3-0 | Friendly | |
| 7 | February 3, 2004 | China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
2-1 | Friendly | |
| 8 | February 7, 2004 | China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
2-1 | Friendly |